Thursday, October 20, 2011

Our Creative Spaces: New (to me) Crochet Technique




I've discovered something new! Well, it's new to me anyway;) 
I'm so excited about it I've decided to have a giveaway tomorrow to celebrate 
my 500th post from September.


Anyway, new technique... I was playing around with some crochet... I wanted 
to be able to swap between colours in a row without having to do the old 
knot-and-cut routine over and over. 





I began that way but the piece was getting a bit bumpy... so, I started introducing 
new colours and keeping them running through the piece, picking up different 
colours as I wanted them. I think it worked out a treat.





This is how I did it, working with a simple double stitch...


(1) When you get to the spot where you'd like to introduce a new colour, put
your hook through that space and pull through a loop of the new colour, yarn 
over with the new colour and pull through the two loops on the hook to complete
the double stitch. It should be half the new colour and half the old colour...



(2) Continue working your double stitches into the next spaces with the new 
colour... 





(3) Make sure you are crocheting the old colour into the work so that it is hidden...





(4) When you've completed as many new colour stitches as you require,
pick up the old colour of yarn and start working double stitches with it.
Again, you need to make sure that the other colour is worked into the piece 
and hidden from view, but ready to pick up again when you need it... 





It's almost like weaving in a way because all the threads run along the length
and can be picked up and woven in as you need them.





The finished effect is rather soft looking too - quite feathery in appearance
which is funny. I love that the surface is all smooth and bump free too :)


Strangely, the colour parts are more defined on the back of the piece...





Anyway, in our world where nothing is ever original, I'm sure it's all been done before...  
but I do admit I'm quite chuffed at discovering this method through experimentation.


Hope you've had a wonderfully creative week too. You can find more creative
spaces here.


Don't forget to come back for my giveaway tomorrow! :)
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26 comments:

  1. TaniaOctober 20, 2011 at 8:01 AM

    Yeah, well I think you're a GENIUS! J'adore the glimpses of colour and your way is much more preferable than dastardly end bits poking out...

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  2. teddybearswednesdayOctober 20, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    I'm with Tania! You're a genius!! this is been much in need in my neck of the woods, so thank you soo much for sharing it, with far too many bumps and ends all over the place.
    xo
    PS I love your crochet piece there

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  3. shine little light*October 20, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    This is SO awesome! *s*

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  4. lamina @ do a bitOctober 20, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    That looks so excellent... I'm going to have to give it a go!! Cool!!!

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  5. MaxabellaOctober 20, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    The actual explanation is all double-Dutch to a non-crochter like me, butan does this look awesome!!! x

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  6. edward and lillyOctober 20, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    LOVE!!! You're too clever for words.

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  7. JennieOctober 20, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    Brilliant Kylie!!
    I love the back and the front.
    Thank you for a really good description!!xx

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  8. MandyOctober 20, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    Oh that is so cool! Well done figuring it out!

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  9. june at noonOctober 20, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    I'm a big fan of this technique, use it frequently. I do sometimes have trouble hiding that extra strand in the stitches, hmmm. I love the way you've used it here--so pretty with just the little bits of color popping out.

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  10. belinda marshallOctober 20, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    fun!! love the way it looks and not having to deal with the ends is so liberating.
    congrats on the break through :)

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  11. AnonymousOctober 20, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    oo oo they do this in tapestry crochet I've used it to try and make pictures in my crochet work with little success . . .yet, i will succeed lol. your work looks lovely how clever of you to think of this all by yourself I wouldn't have i googled lol. I love the colours you choose to and just little snippets of them it really is beautiful. xx

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  12. VicOctober 20, 2011 at 2:07 PM

    Beautiful! Aren't you a clever cookie?!

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  13. Karen Lewis TextilesOctober 20, 2011 at 4:56 PM

    not only are you a genius for discovering it but it's stunning too! Absolutely love the colour palette too ;-)

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  14. Mitsy / ArtMindOctober 20, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    Nothing beats experimenting! Great design too! I love it, Kylie! :)

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  15. at swim-two-birdsOctober 20, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    I'm really amazed you discovered this technique by experimentation, lovely :)

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  16. AnonymousOctober 20, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    That looks great! I have tried to teach myself to crochet, but for some reason its just not working yet. I can knit, sew, draw, but damn it! I can't crochet, but I can admire your fantastic work. Its a great gift you have there!

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  17. ElisabethAndréeOctober 20, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    It looks stunning, I love it! It is like tapestry crochet and that is something I like a lot. Thanks for sharing, it is an inspiring post.

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  18. EllenOctober 21, 2011 at 12:23 AM

    This is new to me too. I'm not a crocheter - I knit. do you think you could post a video of the steps? I'm having trouble visualizing a few steps. The piece is so beautiful.

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  19. LauraOctober 21, 2011 at 1:10 AM

    I've seen tapestry crochet using a technique like this, but you've used it so beautifully. That design is so unusual, just the little lines of colour amongst the white really work. Lovely!

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  20. MaggieOctober 21, 2011 at 1:39 AM

    This looks so pretty, with just a little bit of colour here and there! Thank you for sharing this great technique :)

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  21. alessandraOctober 21, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    so clever!

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  22. RieOctober 21, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    It looks fantastic and I love how the colour kinda peeps out between (in the white bits) - very cute!

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  23. WendyOctober 21, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    it looks fantastic, I really love the effect. I don't think I quite understand how to do it though, how do I keep the other colour running along until I'm ready to use it?

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  24. SusanaOctober 22, 2011 at 12:12 AM

    Hola. Una técnica muy interesante y el cojín a quedado precioso. Felicidades por sus 500 posts.
    Un saludo.

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  25. misako mimokoOctober 30, 2011 at 9:25 PM

    great!! I must try :D
    and congrats!!

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  26. AnonymousNovember 19, 2012 at 10:39 AM

    This technique is called tapestry crochet. There are a lot of cool patterns if you google it.

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